I know that but its also a team up against the cap too and have important players to resign ...

With the cap going up a lot, most teams are lucky
- Ur Not Me

they have 12 mil in cap space not sure how you think they are up against the wall

So we trade Nelson for d which we need but now we have even less skill and scoring in bottom 6. One hole filled one hole dug
- Upstate_isles

Isles do not need a high scoring 3rd line. D is more needed right now. Nelson and his disappearing act will not be missed.

I don't think the 3rd line being less-than-great would be such a problem if this team could get their act together on the blueline. If we had won some, or most, of the last few games nobody would care about the 3rd line's struggles.
- eichiefs9

Exactly! The 3rd line is not a huge issue. This team not having a clue about defense is the issue and it was an issue before the injuries on D and it's been an issue for a number of years.

imho it's more than the blueline that needs help. six players are not the problem. the whole teams needs to be better defensively. players need to finish their checks. back check harder and stop watching the puck and look for the open man in the D zone.

what really bothered me was not one player seemed to be pissed off in the colo game........

Exactly! The 3rd line is not a huge issue. This team not having a clue about defense is the issue and it was an issue before the injuries on D and it's been an issue for a number of years.
- ses111

Nelson for Maroon and Gryba...Gryba was put on waivers but is physical. Might be best dman around right now. Maroon is more physical than Nelson...

Nelson/Aho & 2rd pick for Nurse??
- Ur Not Me

Nope. The BBC is and shall remain an Oiler. We’re as depleted on D as you guys.

they have 12 mil in cap space not sure how you think they are up against the wall
- nyislsbossy

They're gonna have important players to sign plus try to land FA's
Nurse could easily get btw $4-6m per

imho it's more than the blueline that needs help. six players are not the problem. the whole teams needs to be better defensively. players need to finish their checks. back check harder and stop watching the puck and look for the open man in the D zone.

what really bothered me was not one player seemed to be pissed off in the colo game........
- nyislsbossy

Bingo! This team should bring in Jacques Lemaire to teach them defense.

I don't think the 3rd line being less-than-great would be such a problem if this team could get their act together on the blueline. If we had won some, or most, of the last few games nobody would care about the 3rd line's struggles.
- eichiefs9

Totally agree. A 3.5+ GAA isn't a recipe for success. As the season goes on and especially in the PO's teams tighten up their game.

Isles do not need a high scoring 3rd line. D is more needed right now. Nelson and his disappearing act will not be missed.
- ses111

Nelson and his disappearing act are also not wanted by other teams.

Unless it is a cap situation like Leddy or JB, you won't land a top four without giving up a top six starter or prospect. 66 may show top six talent but no GM except Garth considered him a first rd pick and his development so far is not outstanding. Every team has talent equivalent to him. Only Barzal, Bellows and Toews are top talent and no way they get moved.

I don't think the 3rd line being less-than-great would be such a problem if this team could get their act together on the blueline. If we had won some, or most, of the last few games nobody would care about the 3rd line's struggles.
- eichiefs9

Meh it's kind of been an issue for multiple years now. If you want to be a contending team you need some supplementary scoring and good defensive play from your 3rd line. I've been discussing adding a 3rd line center for a while now even when we were playing ok.

In other words this team has multiple issues some maybe not as glaring as their defense and goaltending.

They're gonna have important players to sign plus try to land FA's
Nurse could easily get btw $4-6m per
- Ur Not Me

I heard cap could go up 5 to 7 mil. Next year. That is going to give many teams a little breathing room.

Nelson for Maroon and Gryba...Gryba was put on waivers but is physical. Might be best dman around right now. Maroon is more physical than Nelson...
- kear20

Maroon is a pending UFA and Gryba is a scrap-heap defenseman that a team with defensive problems thought so highly of that they allowed 30 other teams the chance to pick him up for free.

Meh it's kind of been an issue for multiple years now. If you want to be a contending team you need some supplementary scoring and good defensive play from your 3rd line. I've been discussing adding a 3rd line center for a while now even when we were playing ok.
- Cptmjl

I'm not saying it doesn't need to be addressed, just that fixing the defense should be the #1 priority and if that involves trading a 3rd liner to do so then they should do it. Bottom-6 wingers are far less difficult to come by than decent defensemen.

Nelson and his disappearing act are also not wanted by other teams.

Unless it is a cap situation like Leddy or JB, you won't land a top four without giving up a top six starter or prospect. 66 may show top six talent but no GM except Garth considered him a first rd pick and his development so far is not outstanding. Every team has talent equivalent to him. Only Barzal, Bellows and Toews are top talent and no way they get moved.
- Fan101

Teams will take a chance on Nelson. The guy has never been traded so it's not like he has bounced around a few teams. Isles are in a very bad spot if they do not figure things out soon. If trading for a top 4 is out of the question, the coaching staff better figure out how to get this team to play solid team defense.

I'm not saying it doesn't need to be addressed, just that fixing the defense should be the #1 priority and if that involves trading a 3rd liner to do so then they should do it. Bottom-6 wingers are far less difficult to come by than decent defensemen.
- eichiefs9

Of course but it's also a pretty big need that may help this team more than any of us realize.

they have 12 mil in cap space not sure how you think they are up against the wall
- nyislsbossy

Yup.

Nelson for Maroon and Gryba...Gryba was put on waivers but is physical. Might be best dman around right now. Maroon is more physical than Nelson...
- kear20

SOLD!!!

Teams will take a chance on Nelson. The guy has never been traded so it's not like he has bounced around a few teams. Isles are in a very bad spot if they do not figure things out soon. If trading for a top 4 is out of the question, the coaching staff better figure out how to get this team to play solid team defense.
- ses111

The defense is fundamentally all wrong. You have two defenseman chasing the play in their own end while two opposing players are left unchecked in front of the net. That's coaching. That needs to stop and it's either Weight not addressing it or the players not listening.

I want a trade for a defenseman like everyone else but how much will IT help if they continue to play like this?

I'm not saying it doesn't need to be addressed, just that fixing the defense should be the #1 priority and if that involves trading a 3rd liner to do so then they should do it. Bottom-6 wingers are far less difficult to come by than decent defensemen.
- eichiefs9

No doubt the Talent on the blue line should have been and now should def. be addressed with JB and CDH both on the shelf.
That said the whole team needs to be on the same page when it comes to playing a tighter defensive game.

SOLD!!!
- Wildschwein

Maroon is a pending UFA and Gryba is a scrap-heap defenseman that a team with defensive problems thought so highly of that they allowed 30 other teams the chance to pick him up for free.
- eichiefs9

(frank) you Chiefs, I said SOLD!!!

No doubt the Talent on the blue line should have been and now should def. be addressed with JB and CDH both on the shelf.
That said the whole team needs to be on the same page when it comes to playing a tighter defensive game.
- nyisles7

Yeah there are obviously a ton of issues from the net on out. I didn't get to see the game on Sunday, but by all accounts that was probably for the best.

- eichiefs9

Can’t the Oil (frank) you guys over just once? Please?

The defense is fundamentally all wrong. You have two defenseman chasing the play in their own end while two opposing players are left unchecked in front of the net. That's coaching. That needs to stop and it's either Weight not addressing it or the players not listening.
- Cptmjl

It should be so obvious what the issue is and yet it never gets corrected. This is my big issue with Weight. He took over late last year and did not have any of his new coaches or time to implement a new system. What is the excuse now? I also want to trade for a defense, but it will help very little unless the entire team buys into playing defense.